Seeking to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship.

Texas lawmaker: ‘The border is safe’

Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) said Wednesday the U.S.-Mexico border is as safe as it has ever been and any increase in border security funding can only produce “marginal improvement.”

O’Rourke, whose district covers most of El Paso, Texas, across the Rio Grande from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, insisted border security has been achieved.

“We can no longer concede the premise to the other side. Even when the president of the United States says all these amazing things about our policy vis a vis Mexico and immigration and he says, ‘but first we’ll secure the border.’ Absolutely the wrong way to view this.”